The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R
How numerous were the tribes allied against us, some
the central trihes, some their allies.
They attacked us thinking themselves unequalled, but we
severed nose and ears
With our Indian swords, supple and gleaming, violently
forcing them forward
To the business of God and Islam until the religion is
established in justice and devotion
And al-L%t, al-Wzzii and Wudd are forgotten and we
remove their necklaces and earrings.
Now they have become acquiescent and secure; and those
who do not refrain (from idolatry) become disgraced."'
Ibn Ishaq continued, "Kinma b. 'Abd Yalil b. 'Amr b. Wmayr al-Thaqafi
answered him in the following verse."
(I note that he had later come over to the Messenger of God (SAAS),
along with the Thaqif delegation; he accepted Islam along with them. This
was so stated by Masa b. Wqba, Aba Ishaq, Aba Wmar b. 'Abd al-Barr, Ibn
al-Athir and others. Al-Mads'ini, however, claimed that he did not accept
Islam, but went into Byzantine territory, where he accepted Christianity and
died.)
'To those seeking us to fight us: we're at a well-known
place we will not leave.
We know our forefathers were here, where are its
terraces and its vineyards.
'Amr b. 'Amir previously put us to the test, and their
men of reason and wisdom advised them.
They knew - if truth they tell - that we set straight
cheeks turned aside in disdain.
We reform them; those who are wild we tame and those
who do wrong acknowledge the evident truth.
We dress in light, supple chain-mail, from a longed-for
legacy, sky-coloured its sheen, decorated with
stars.
We force them off us with our sharp swords which, when
once drawn in conflict we do not again sheathe."'
Ibn Ishaq went on, "Shaddad b. 'Arid al-Jushami spoke the following verses
concerning the passage of the Messenger of God (SAAS) to al-Tz'if,
'Do not assist al-Lnt whom God destroys; how can aid be
given to one who cannot be assisted?
She who was burned, flaming in black smoke, while at
her stone monument not even the worthless do battle.
Once the Messenger descends on your lands and has left,
none of its people will remain there."'